PURPOSE The purpose of this review was to review different types of shoulder injuries of throwing group (TG) and resistance training group (RTG). METHODS A literature review was conducted via web based search engines such as the PUBMED and OVID to collect information about physical characteristics of the overhead sports activity. RESULTS The overhead athlete including TG and RTG has unique physical traits and adaptive changes as a result of the repetitive nature of overhead motion. Especially, they have a higher range of motion of external rotation of glenohumeral joint and low range of motion in the internal rotation. In overhead athlete, glenohumeral internal rotation deficiency (GIRD) is a normal phenomenon that can be easily expected. However, this change leads to contracture of the posterior shoulder, increases humerus retroversion, and results in imbalance of rotator cuff. Therefore, overhead throwing and resistance training induce soft tissue damage, anterior instability or subluxation, subacromial impingement, nerve compression, and acromialclavicular injury. Throwing was well reported on rotator cuff injury while overhead resistance training induces injuries on biceps brachii long tendon and supraspinatus. There are similarities between high five position in RTG and 90° abduction and external rotation of the shoulder in TG groups. CONCLUSIONS We know that TG and RTG have a similar to the shoulder injuries from this review. However, Because the types of shoulder injuries are different by the motion of resistance training, we recommend the adaptation of resistance training for shoulder injury prevention.